People's Democracy

CPI(M) POLIT BUREAU CALLS FOR 

Nationwide Political Campaign 

In the wake of the historic triumph of the Left Front in Bengal and of the Left Democratic Front in Kerala, the CPI(M) will launch a nationwide campaign highlighting and taking to the masses, the political issues the Left stood for.  

Prakash Karat, general secretary, CPI(M) said this at a media conference at Muzaffar Ahmad Bhavan in Kolkata at the conclusion of the two-day meeting of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau on May 28, 2006.  

Prakash Karat said that the details of the campaign would be given final shape at the meeting of the CPI(M) central committee to be held at Hyderabad early next month.  

The CPI(M) general secretary said that in reviewing the two years’ of the Congress-led UPA government, the Polit Bureau noted the areas and realms where differences of opinion existed between the UPA and the Left. 

The Left parties, which have already issued a statement on the two years of UPA governance, have decided to meet on June 1 to discuss on which issues should be taken up with the UPA government and how. A collective resolution, said Prakash Karat, would be made in the meeting on what issues to take up and how to take them up with the UPA leadership. 

The Polit Bureau expressed its displeasure at the rise in the general price levels of commodities of common consumption. Prakash Karat said that the Polit Bureau was especially worried over the rapid increase of prices of food items, medicine, and kerosene. The public distribution system has been allowed to deteriorate by the UPA government. 

On the issue of price increase of petro products, Prakash Karat was of the view that a review of the taxation structure was necessary. To resist the proposed petroleum price hike, the CPI(M) would be in touch with all democratic and secular parties to build up a strong nationwide movement. 

The agrarian scene on the national plane, said the CPI (M) leader, was quite bleak what with falling prices, shortfall in production of food crops, and a reducing rate of procurement. Food security is affected. In the meanwhile, abject poverty has continued to drive farmers to commit suicide in states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamilnadu, among others. 

Commenting on the OBC reservation in education, Prakash Karat said that there should be a socio-economic criterion governing the reservation of seats. The CPI(M) has already called for a commensurate increase in the number of seats in the central government education institutions simultaneously with the implementation of OBC reservation. 

On the drive to modernise airports, Prakash Karat said that the CPI(M) was for modernisation but against privatisation. The Airports Authority of India, a profit-making body should undertake the task of modernising the Kolkata and Chennai airports, said the CPI(M) general secretary. 

Following is the full text of the Polit Bureau communiqué issued after the meeting: 

Earthquake In Indonesia 

The Polit Bureau expressed its deep shock and grief at the loss of over 3000 lives in the earthquake in central Java in Indonesia. The Polit Bureau requested the government of India to send relief material and other assistance to Indonesia for the earthquake-affected people. The Polit Bureau conveyed its heartfelt condolences to those who have suffered due to this natural calamity. 

Political Situation 

The Polit Bureau assessed the political situation in the country after the assembly elections in five states. The Polit Bureau discussed the draft report on political developments to be presented to the central committee meeting in June, at Hyderabad. 

The Polit Bureau decided that in view of the Left victories in West Bengal and Kerala assembly elections, the Party should conduct a nationwide political campaign projecting the political and policy issues which the CPI(M) and the Left stand for. The central committee will work out details of this campaign. 

Price Rise  

The Polit Bureau expressed serious concern at the increase in prices of all essential commodities used by the people. Prices of food items are going up continuously. The prices of sugar, kerosene, oil, cement and medicines have also increased steeply. The UPA government has failed to deal with the situation and instead takes satisfaction that the rate of inflation has come down to four percent.  

It is in this context that the deterioration of the public distribution system is affecting the people. The UPA government sets limits for distribution of BPL cards in the states, which have no relation to the number of poor people. It is necessary to immediately strengthen and expand the public distribution system. 

The problems arising from the agrarian crisis have not been tackled properly. Suicides by farmers are continuing in states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Kerala. The foodgrain production in 2004-05 fell to 198.4 million tonnes as compared to 213.2 million tonnes in 2003-04. In 2005-06, the estimated production is 210 million tonnes which is still less than the 2003 figure. The shortfall in production and procurement has led to the government deciding to import three million tonnes of wheat after the earlier import of half a million tonnes. The farmers have got higher prices from private traders than the minimum support price (Rs. 650+50 bonus) and the procurement will be less than what is targeted. There is a projected deficit of 30 lakh tonnes as on April 1, 2007. With declining procurement, food security and the public distribution system are bound to be affected.  

Petrol Price Hike 

The government is considering an increase in the prices of petroleum products citing the increase in the international oil prices. Already in the last two years, the government has increased the prices of petroleum products four times. The government refuses to review the taxation structure for petroleum products by which the government has imposed a big burden on the people. Without reduction of the tax burden on petroleum products, any attempt to impose added burdens on the people will have no justification and has to be strongly resisted. 

The Polit Bureau decided that a powerful countrywide movement must be launched against any proposed petroleum price hike. For this, the CPI(M) will contact all democratic and secular parties to jointly conduct a countrywide struggle. 

Reservation In Education For OBCs  

The Polit Bureau reiterated its stand on the question of OBC reservation in education. OBC reservation has to be provided for in educational institutions under the purview of the central government. As distinct from the SC and ST categories, the CPI(M) has maintained that there should be a socio-economic criteria which ensures that the needy sections among the OBCs benefit from the reservations. The Party had also advocated a commensurate increase in the number of seats in central government educational institutions when OBC reservation is introduced. The Polit Bureau supports the stand arrived at the UPA Coordination Committee meeting along with the Left parties regarding the OBC reservation in educational institutions under the purview of the central government. 

The Polit Bureau appealed to the students and other sections who are agitating against the reservation for OBCs to understand that the proposal put out by the UPA and the Left parties will provide a equitable and balanced solution keeping in mind the interests of all sections. 

Airport Modernisation 

The Polit Bureau criticised the UPA government for pushing for privatisation of the airports under the guise of modernisation. The Polit Bureau reiterated that the government should not sideline the Airports Authority of India which is a profit-making public sector enterprise. After arguing that the modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports should be done by private parties because the funds of the Airports Authority of India are required for the modernisation of the other airports, the government is now moving for privatising the other airports including the Kolkata and Chennai airports. The Polit Bureau demanded that the AAI should be entrusted with the task of modernising the existing airports under its jurisdiction.  

Nepal  

The Polit Bureau warmly greeted the people of Nepal for their historic success through the popular struggle in getting the King to rescind his authoritarian rule. Parliament has taken away certain powers of the King including control of the armed forces. Nepal has been declared a secular State. The seven-party alliance has declared that elections will be held to set up a Constituent Assembly. Negotiations with the Maoists have begun for the political process to be worked out. The CPI(M) expresses its support for the efforts by the democratic and secular forces for the constitution of a democratic republic of Nepal.